Sentence level writing

Designed to elicit basic to high level conversation.

Can be used for eliciting verbal or written language.

Can be used to work on any area of conversation: eliciting opinions, making descriptions, making inferences, giving definitions, reminiscing, talking about emotions, making predictions, telling stories or even working on fluency and speech clarity.

Could be used for self practise if the person has a means of recording their speech/writing or could be used during therapy sessions with the therapist.

Results (as rated by the therapist or conversation partner) are recorded and can be emailed.

Can customise the written content to elicit specific types of language or work on particular language areas.

The user can choose to have the questions read aloud.

Free trial available through Conversation Therapy Lite app

Supplier: Tactus

Brief description

• Reading & writing tool designed for children but can be very helpful for people with aphasia who need help with writing & spelling
• Word prediction (can be personalised)
• Word & phrase banks by topic or A-Z (can be personalised)
• Written or picture supported word banks
• Hear words before selecting
• Listen back to what you have written
• Make voice notes to rehearse a sentence before writing it

Who could benefit

• People who have some spelling but who need writing & spelling prompts
• People who have no spelling but who would like to write letters/cards
  
   

Brief description

• Speech recognition program
• As the user speaks into the microphone, the speech is automatically turned into text
• Can read back &/or listen back to what has been typed

Who could benefit

• Someone with good speech & listening skills but compromised spelling &/or reading skills

Comments

• Need to train the program to recognise your speech
• Noise reducing microphones work best
• Requires good cognitive skills to remember commands & adapt speaking rate

Brief description

• Word prediction, speech recognition & screen reader
• The program predicts to aid spelling, gives examples of word useage, reads aloud text on the screen (what you’re typing or what you’re reading).
• Can also use speech recognition to ‘type’ in words.
• Can customise the dictionary to improve prediction
• Screen reader, prediction & speech recognition works within all programs/web pages (e.g. can use within email, social networking sites & web searches)

Who could benefit:

• People who can spell the first 2-3 letters of a word before getting stuck
• People who can spell words but sometimes find it easier to say a word

Comments

• All parts of the program work on PC. Mac users only have access to the word prediction & screen reading parts of the program, not the speech recognition part
• Switch accessible only if using Wivick connection cable
   

Type of exercises:

• Multiple choice and gapfiller sentence, phrase and definition completion

Developed with SLT: Yes



Theory based: No specific theory base, SLT experience



Record own speaking attempts: N/A



Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A



Customisation/personalisation: No



Error handling: None



Prompts/cues given: Can listen to question and hear answer spoken but no actual auditory cues



Tutorials: No



Free trial: Yes



Support: Free, life time technical support via phone, email or online livechat



Comments:

• Need mouse to exit before the end of the exercise session
• Extensive number of items to complete
• Some flexibility with answers (multiple correct answers)

N.B:

Have to delete previous answer before correcting a response

Writing tasks but also working on semantics

Need sentence level reading

Spoken answers are with an American accent

Type of exercises:

• Multiple choice and gapfiller sentence, phrase and definition completion

Developed with SLT: Yes

Theory based: No specific theory base, SLT experience

Record own speaking attempts: N/A

Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A

Customisation/personalisation: No

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues given: None

Tutorials: No

Free trial: Yes

Support: Free, life time technical support via phone, email or online livechat

Comments:

• Need mouse to exit before the end of the exercise session
• Extensive number of items to complete
• Some flexibility with answers (multiple correct answers)

N.B:

• Have to delete previous answer before correcting a response
• Writing tasks but also working on semantics
• Need sentence level reading

Type of exercises:

• Multiple choice and gapfiller sentence,
• phrase and definition completion

Developed with SLT: Yes

Theory based: No specific theory base, SLT experience

Record own speaking attempts: N/A

Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A

Customisation/personalisation: No

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues given: Can choose number of multiple choice options & type of cue

Tutorials: No

Free trial: Yes

Support: Free, life time technical support via phone, email or online livechat

Comments:

• Need mouse to exit before the end of the exercise session
• Extensive number of items to complete
• Some flexibility with answers (multiple correct answers)

N.B:
    Have to delete previous answer before correcting a response
    Writing tasks but also working on semantics
    Need sentence level reading

Type of exercises:

• Multiple choice and gapfiller sentence, phrase and definition completion

Developed with SLT: Yes



Theory based: No specific theory base, SLT experience



Record own speaking attempts: N/A



Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A



Customisation/personalisation: No



Error handling: None



Prompts/cues given:

• Choose number of multiple choice options.
• Can listen to question and hear answer spoken but no actual auditory cues

Tutorials: No



Free trial: Yes



Support: Free, life time technical support via phone, email or online livechat



Comments:

• Need mouse to exit before the end of the exercise session
• Extensive number of items to complete
• Some flexibility with answers (multiple correct answers)

N.B:

    Have to delete previous answer before correcting a response

    Writing tasks but also working on semantics

    Need sentence level reading